The need and stressors of finding a forever home were echoed by all of my students after reading “Wherever I Go”.  All of my students’ families have been in the position of needing to leave their home for a new one for various reasons.  Fortunately, this year, all of my students’ families have had help from outside agencies and/or family members.  This has not always been the case though.  All of my students were able to recall a time when they or their family were moving to the US.  Most students have come from Africa or the Middle East.  Many have seen how wars and unrest can impact their families and themselves. A lot of my students spoke of the “chances” that their families were looking forward to once in the US.  The other word that came up a lot was “safety”.  Some of my students have seen family members be kidnapped or killed in their home country.  Many students talked about coming to the US and coming to school where it “would be safer because they don’t beat you like they would” in their school in Africa. 

Thankfully, all of my families had help to get themselves and their children to the US. They’ve had this help to help them find a place to stay, how to get food and medical care and how to get their children into school. I’m aware, however, that not everyone is fortunate to have people to help them resettle which can only add to the stress and anxiety of finding that forever home.  My students don’t often “have a lot” when compared to those that were born in the state and have had no disruption to their education, but my students “have a lot” of family pride and understanding of the importance of their home and their family.